Pakistan on Tuesday called for negotiations with India
and asked New Delhi to relocate its troops away from the
border in a show of goodwill to defuse tensions between
the nuclear-armed neighbours.
The proposals from Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi
came as both sides took steps to rekindle relations that
had quickly deteriorated following the Mumbai attacks,
which India blamed on militants based in Pakistan.
"Dialogue is in the interest of both the countries
-- we should sit across the table and also use diplomatic
channels" to resolve differences, Qureshi said in
a policy statement broadcast live on local television.
"Pakistan wants to make two specific proposals to
India to reduce tensions and create a congenial atmosphere,"
he said.
"India should de-activate its forward air bases
and relocate its ground forces to peacetime positions,"
Qureshi said. "This will send a positive signal and
reduce tensions in the region."
Qureshi described developments in the past two days --
such as a hotline conversation between high-level military
officials from the two countries -- as "positive".
